(no subject)

[fearlesstemp]

You guys, I am so rageful, I'm on the verge of writing a strongly worded letter!!! I even have notes sketched out. I would write it right now, but I am too lazy to worry about proper verbiage and sounding reasonable, and so, of course, I post in my LiveJournal.

Anyway!

Superman Returns came out today, which I have been looking forward to like you wouldn't believe. A bright spot in my boring life of secretarial work by day and desperate job-hunting by night! I arrived, I plunked down $9.75, I went into the movie. I was all excited. ALL excited.

And then a bunch of teenage boys sat down a few rows behind me and talked all. through. the movie. ALL through the movie, and an usher only came to check on us once (after which they were quiet for a little bit), and people were trying to shush them but they were all rude and ignoring them, and so instead of appreciating the cinematic wonder that was Superman Returns, I spent the whole time thinking, "Should I say something? Should I get someone? Maybe they'll be quiet. They're quiet now. Maybe they're done. . . Okay, they're talking again. Should I say something? Should I get someone?"

Etc etc.

By the end of the movie, I was full of RAGE and went up to the Guest Services desk to complain; no one there. Waited forever, then went to the ticket booth, where the manager was harassing one of his employees, and I waited for an opportunity to discuss my moviegoing experience with them. I approached a ticket booth person, and she referred me to the manager, and the adventure began!

Now, you guys, I don't know how accurate this LiveJournal is at depicting my Real Life Persona, but I am such a pushover in real life, it's not even funny. When I get bad service in a restaurant, I overtip because maybe the waitress is having a bad day. I am no good at conflict! I avoid it at all costs! You have to understand that when I went up to the booth, I was not Rageful Asshole Customer, I was Reasonable Polite Customer! I expressed my feelings and emphasized the fact that the usher only came through once during the two-and-a-half hour movie. I know the movies can't baby-sit their patrons, but they can send an usher in more often.

And the guy was so rude to me! I could type up the conversation, but what got me was his attitude, which can't be captured in a transcript. I mean, hello, I know, customer service BLOWS. I worked retail when I was in college and it nearly destroyed my faith in humanity. I had idiot people asking for undeserved refunds on a daily basis, but I was always pleasant to their faces! THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. He acted like I was lying (asked me to repeat something the people had said), would only refund one of our tickets since my brother and I could only find one stub between us, and just generally acted like I was a step above pond scum on the social ladder. At the end of the conversation, after pocketing the $9.75, I told the girl who I'd originally spoken to that this really wasn't like me, I almost never complain, that the experience had been that bad, etc etc. And as I was walking away, the manager said, over her shoulder, "Well, you know, we can't control people's behavior!"

I was a few feet away by the time the comment registered, which my brother didn't hear. And, you know, of course they can't! OF COURSE. But, you know, I'm not responsible for other people's behavior, either! I'm paying ten bucks to sit in this theater! Maybe that's not a lot to some people, but it's a lot to me! I shouldn't have to baby-sit fellow patrons!

I don't know. He should have just been pleasant to me! And all of this could have been avoided! And now I want to write a letter, but part of me is afraid he'll get fired or something for it, and then he'll lose his apartment, and end up on the streets, hating life, living in a box somewhere, always remembering that Disgruntled Patron Who Ruined His Life.

I would talk about the movie itself, but I fear spoiling people who clicked through on the above cut tag, so I will save it for another entry!

Right now, to bed I go!

Comments

[gnorph.livejournal.com]

Write a letter. Go ahead. He won't get fired. But they might Make an Effort.

It's so annoying when people do that.

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

I think I will write a letter! If I don't, I'm pretty sure my brother will; he was as upset or more upset than I was.

I think a lot of my rage comes from the fact that when I was working, I had to Make an Effort every day. I didn't get to get away with being snarky to the customers! Neither should he!

[ravengirl.livejournal.com]

zactly. you should write the letter as the "big bosses" don't have a freakin' clue what really goes on. and if this guy is managing the place, well, he sucks.

you reminded me of an incident when i worked at round table pizza in san diego. this Very Old Couple ordered a large pizza. the woman went to get drinks and the man ordered the pizza with ONLY shrimp and anchovies. that was unusual, of course, so i clarified two or three times what it was that he was saying, even stating that nothing else would BE on the pizza except those two items. when their name was called, the old man was livid. that's not what he ordered! *GASP* WTF?! it was the one and only time i ever called a customer mistaken. the old woman said "he didn't order that!" and i said "you weren't even here when he ordered!" *LOL* oh, sweet memories.

'course, that old man is dead now, so he got his, dint he. ;)

[ladulcinea.livejournal.com]

'course, that old man is dead now, so he got his, dint he. ;)

*snort*

[meacoustic.livejournal.com]

I hate people that talk all through movies. I just don't understand it - how can they enjoy something when they jabber through the whole thing? Where are their parents? Who taught them manners? It happened when I went to see X3 a few weeks ago and I was all "RAGE!!!!!" through the movie.

And then when it was over I forgot about it.

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

And then when it was over I forgot about it.

I think that is healthier! Though most of my anger isn't directed so much at the teenager as it is at the manager, who was just rude. I didn't get to be rude when I worked in customer service! Neither should anyone else!

[kaelie.livejournal.com]

Oh dude, that is so very, very wrong! I flail in sympathetic rage!

I once shushed a guy sitting behind me who was talking loudly during "Saving Private Ryan" (saying things like "oh MAN!! that kind of artillery will just TEAR A BODY UP!!!") and he leaned forward and told me "hey, if you can't handle it, go home and wait for the video," which just -- so did not compute. Then Mr. K almost punched him, and the ushers came and threw the guy out, and it totally ruined the entire movie-going experience for us all. My theory is that ever since VCRs started appearing in homes, people stopped being courteous in theaters.

I have to take Mr. K to see Superman Returns this weekend. On IMAX. IN 3D. We will sit in the very back to avoid the rude teenaged boys.

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

OMG, that Saving Private Ryan story!! Mr. K, fighting for his woman! As usual, I am impressed by your nerve; all I could muster in this instance were a couple of pointed, over-the-shoulder glares at the group a few rows up. And then I got all disgruntled on management. Blah. Though really, my disgruntle-ment only happened after Manager Dude was rude to me! I didn't even ask for my money back; he just assumed that was what I was after, and got all defensive about how he could only give me so much, etc. I probably would have taken a coupon for fifty cents off popcorn, or something. But instead, he ignited my RAGE and I will channel it onto letterhead!

I have to take Mr. K to see Superman Returns this weekend. On IMAX. IN 3D. We will sit in the very back to avoid the rude teenaged boys.

Am so jealous!!!! I really liked the movie, when I was able to enjoy it. We must compare notes!

[kaelie.livejournal.com]

Forgot to say omg yes, you must write that letter. Rude Manager must be taught a lesson!

[sinsense.livejournal.com]

Teenage boys aside, the manager was out of line. Do you remember his name? If not, remember to include a basic physical description in your letter. I worked for a District Manager at Barnes&Noble (the next step in the pecking order above Store Manager), and this was the sort of letter she was often glad to receive. Sometimes it was the last straw that meant she could officially fire an employee who had a history of being rude and confrontational, for example. Sometimes it meant that she could go talk to the Store Manager about his employees, and work out what was going on that was making people react badly to customers.

Anyway, seriously, you should totally write the letter. I'm guessing that you'll want the manager of the theater at large, if it's not the same guy as the one you talked to. If you're feeling nervous about that, there should be a customer service contact option on the movie theater's webpage. At the very least, you should get a ticket refund and a very apologetic form letter for how rude he was.

This is totally the long version of what my mom said above. Hah! The truth comes out.

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

Teenage boys aside, the manager was out of line. Do you remember his name?

My brother went back and got it when he heard what the manager's parting shot had been, so we are set! I think we will write the letter. The guy was just so disrespectful - it's hard to articulate in an LJ entry, but it really enraged both my brother and me. And my brother doesn't get enraged! I think the last time I saw my brother this way was when Armando Benitez blew a save for the Mets against the Braves, and Benitez was traded away from the Mets at least two seasons ago. It takes a lot!

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

Also, yes, you and your mom are so cute! I love reading her LJ because she's a cool lady, and also because I can see the Fellow Jess/Jess's Mom similarities, which remind me of how I'll sometimes find myself in the middle of a conversation and realize that I'm standing exactly the way my mother does in such a situation, using the same vocabulary, tilting my head just so the way she always does. Daughter programming goes deep!

[lemniskate.livejournal.com]

write the letter, definitely. I can't believe you got that treatment. that's insane.

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the validation! Am going to write tonight. :)

[callmesandy.livejournal.com]

Write the letter. The manager should not have been rude to you and he was. Also, hi, you weren't being insane or wacky, your movie experience was ruinated.

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

You're right, I wasn't being insane or wacky! It isn't ridiculous to expect to be able to actually hear the dialog in a movie you payed $9.75 for, is it?

[lawgeekgurl.livejournal.com]

he completely CAN control their behavior - by telling disruptive movie patrons if they don't pipe down and sit still, he will eject them. he completely abdicated his responsibility to the rest of the paying ticketholders. I call bullshit on his behavior.

I second writing to the theater chain home office. Include description of manager and (politely) tell them of your experience. That manager is not doing his job.

[pink-aster.livejournal.com]

Right, he can't force them to stop talking by applying electric shock techniques, or anything, but he can kick them out of the theater.

What a dumbass.

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

he completely CAN control their behavior - by telling disruptive movie patrons if they don't pipe down and sit still, he will eject them. he completely abdicated his responsibility to the rest of the paying ticketholders.

Right! I mean, is that the theater chain policy? ARe they offering a movie going experience where you take your chances and hope for the best? That's crap! I want a good movie-going experience, dammit!

[pink-aster.livejournal.com]

*shakes fist*

And if you'd left the theater to go find someone to complain to, you'd have missed a bunch of the movie. I never know how to deal with talkers. It's like, "Yeah, I can't really hear over these assholes, but if I leave to complain, I won't be seeing anything, either."

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

And if you'd left the theater to go find someone to complain to, you'd have missed a bunch of the movie.

Yes, exactly! That's the main reason I didn't leave, even though I was tempted to. I hate missing stuff! And I shouldn't have to miss stuff because of other people's toolish behavior.

[evilprettykitty.livejournal.com]

Write the letter. CAuse dude should have done something.

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

I will!

[krabapple.livejournal.com]

Yes, letter writing ahoy!

Not only was he rude during the conversation, but the parting shot was inexcusable. Passive-aggressive bullshit. And he can control people's behavior by ejecting them from the theater, that's true. They ruined the experience for everyone in that theater, which is, frankly, a whole lot of ticket holders. He shouldn't be that eager to lose that many customers and therefore that much money for his theater. And neither should his bosses.

My dad's a grocey store manager, and no matter how rude customers are, you never, ever treat them like that. And the nice ones? He'd be appalled.

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

My brother just got his BA in some kind of business/marketing thing (not my area of expertise), and he was flipping out on the way home because of how the guy totally was blowing all of the rules of acceptable customer treatment. Esp. since we really weren't being rude.

[dick-grayson.livejournal.com]

I'm more passive-aggressive with this sort of thing (although I'm sure my sister thinks I'm way more aggressive than passive). Anyway, your story reminds me of the time me and the sis were at a movie (can't remember which one -- possibly one of the Harry Potters). The movie had been out for a while, but we are lame and had not seen it, so the theater was practically empty. We settled in, two-thirds of the way back, as Roger Ebert recommends. And just before the movie started, four people came in and, despite the veritable plethora of seating options, chose to sit directly behind us.

Soon, it became evident that one member of their group either (a) had smoked too much dope prior to the movie, or (b) had the attention span of a flea. Because he asked questions about every single thing happening in the movie, including obvious things. And one of the women in the group answered ever last one of his questions. Their dialogue occurred at a normal, conversational level and pretty much drove me insane. Now, I will admit that there was an option (c), that the guy had some physical or mental impairment that made it difficult for him to follow the simplest of plot points. But it drove me crazy that the approach to helping him understand the movie involved infringing on *my* enjoyment of the movie.

So, naturally, I snarked (at low volume) to my sister, occasionally asking her equally obvious questions, which I'm sure she really enjoyed. After the movie, I bitched to my sister in the ladies room. At which point, the woman in question appeared from one of the stalls and proceeded to chew me out by saying that I should be more understanding because some people need help watching and understanding movies. In fact, she said I was rude for complaining about our experience to my own sister! At which point, I informed her that, if she knew that's how the movie experience was going to be for her group, then she was rude for plunking herself down right behind two people who were already seated, especially when there were other seats available. My sister was heading for the exit at that point, but I never said I was all that politically correct. And, hello, I was right, dammit!

But, yeah, turn around and say something directly to them during the movie, or go and complain to the manager? Not bloody likely.

[fearlesstemp.livejournal.com]

OMG, that bathroom story of yours is, like, MY NIGHTMARE! I give you credit for handling it so well, being reasonable and stating your case instead of just turning tail and running, which is what I would have done. Nice job!